How often have you heard the phrase “to thine own self be true?” Or maybe you’ve heard “do what makes you happy.” How about “walk in YOUR truth?” These are just a few of the common phrases we hear being tossed around today as justification to live your life however you want, obligated to no one. The common modern philosophy is you only live once so live your best life , whatever that means to you.
The Gospel of Christ speaks contrary to this, rather we are told to give up all that we have, deny ourselves and follow Christ. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” Luke 9:23.
In our last post, He Leadeth Me: Learning the Voice of God, we discussed discerning the voice of our Shepherd as He seeks to leads us. Likened to sheep, as professed followers of Christ, we have been challenged to follow only our Shepherd’s leading and shun all outside influences.
Paramount to learning and acknowledging the voice of God, we have to recognize that “His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts highter than ours” (Isaiah 55:9) . Being dutiful, obedient sheep mean that we submit ourselves to be led according to God’s will because He, our Good Shepherd, wants only to “prosper us and not harm us” (Jeremiah 29:11).
How do we achieve this in today’s “do what you want” and “be who you want” culture? Here are 6 short tips on how to surrender your will to God’s.
- Acknowledge God’s authority as superior. “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” Psalm 100:3. Understanding that we are subject to a higher power, the all-powerful creator of this vast universe, drives home the point of our feebleness. As our God is superior and not limited to the confines of time and space, we can confidently submit to His leading because he has the whole world in His hand.
- Recognize that self is to be slain daily. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20. It is imperative that we check yourselves daily. Our own wisdom is foolishness when compared to the wisdom of God. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:27 and Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
- Acknowledge your nothingness without God. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” Acts 17:28.
- Recognize that whatever we think we are capable of achieving or providing for ourselves, the Lord is able to do far above this. ” Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20. Everything that we have is a gift from God. Everything is given to us out of the bounties of His mercy. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” Phillipians 2:13.
- Abide in Jesus, the true Vine. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” John 15:4. What does this look like? We are in the world, and will be until God reclaims the breath of life loaned to us. This does not mean that we are subject to the world’s influences. As Christ’s sheep we are called to walk against the grain, against the popular tide, away from the broad path to destruction and onto the narrow path to eternal salvation. Commit yourself daily to His influence through diligent prayer and Bible study.
- Find what pleases the Lord and do it. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” Psalm 19:14. “Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better” Colossians 1:10. In his presence there is fullness of joy, at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
As we continue on this journey with Jesus the Good Shepherd leading us we MUST denounce willfulness and worldly influences while pursuing His will so that we may live in abundance, as He promised. Let us be intentional in prayerfully and earnestly surrendering ourselves to be led only by Him.
Pray: Lord as You speak to my heart help me to surrender my will, my thoughts, my ways to yours. In moments where I am tempted to think I know what is best, remind me of your sovereignty. Grant me humility to acknowledge my feebleness and recognize that only when my life is hid in you will I truly find peace and prosperity. Amen.
